Fifteen Transcendent 2017 Grads Receive Penn College Awards

Fifteen Pennsylvania College of Technology students were presented with Penn College Awards during an end-of-semester banquet at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant. The awards recognize graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the college and who have risen above their classmates as a result of that leadership.

Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities, emceed the May 11 event before a crowd of encouraging families, friends and college employees. President Davie Jane Gilmour welcomed the students and their dinner guests, pinned each award-winner, handed them a package of Wildcat memorabilia, and posed for photos with honorees and their faculty/staff sponsors. In her remarks, the president acknowledged the student leaders – and the difficulty of putting into words "what they've meant to us, how they've impacted our lives and how much we'll miss them."

An alphabetical list of recipients, their hometowns and majors, and highlights (though far from a complete accounting) of their many campus and community activities:

Abdulaziz S. Alomani
Williamsport
Plastics and polymer engineering technology

Introduced by Katie L. Mackey, director of campus and community engagement; adviser to the Saudi Students Organization

President of the Saudi Students Organization, twice created and managed an on-campus Saudi Expo (an award-winning annual event to build cultural bridges between nations), participant in Multicultural Lawn Party, liaison for international students, organized social events at the Islamic Center in Williamsport, cooperated with American Rescue Workers to feed and clothe needy local residents

Ainsley R. Bennett
Montoursville
Graphic design

Introduced by Penny G. Lutz, director of The Gallery at Penn College

Member of the Cru Worship Team and Special Events Team, College Bible Study Leadership for The Harbor, Worship and Creative Team for college outreach at First Church of Williamsport, merit badge designer, Awesome Woman Exemplar, Addy Award winner, member of American Institute of Graphic Arts student chapter, designed catalog for The Gallery at Penn College's 10th anniversary exhibit

Mitchell J. Berninger
Williamsport
Web and interactive media

Introduced by Allison A. Bressler, assistant director of student activities for programming and Greek life

Phi Mu Delta (various offices, including vice president of administration), Greek Senate (including as president), Greek New Member of the Year (2013) and Greek Member of the Year (2014), Man-i-Cures, Jump for St, Jude, Riverwalk and Camp Victory cleanup, Ski and Snowboard Club, Student Marketing Assistant, Connections Link (including service as Lead Link), Wildcat mascot

Morgan E. Blackwell
Beech Creek
Accounting

Introduced by Dawn M. Dickey, assistant director of disability services

Penn College Accounting Society (including terms as president, vice president and secretary), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance tax preparer (2015 and 2017), member of the Wildcat women's tennis team and North Eastern Athletic Conference scholar-athlete, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Awesome Woman Exemplar, ministry trip to Haiti

Garrett D. Corneliussen
Hickory, North Carolina
Welding and fabrication engineering technology

Introduced by Claire Z. Biggs, coordinator of admissions events and services

Presidential Student Ambassador, Student Government Association (executive vice president and other offices), student member on college's internal Governance committees, American Welding Society student member, Leadership Boot Camp, PCT Bike Club co-founder and president, Race Against Racism 5k, hiking/biking trail cleanup, study-abroad semester in Austria

Lauren J. Crouse
Turbotville
Applied human services

Introduced by Anthony J. Pace, director of student activities

Student Development Assistant, Presidential Student Ambassador, Senior Resident Assistant, Commuter and Community Assistant, Lead Orientation Link, Awesome Woman Exemplar, Wildcat Dance Team, Student Judicial Council, Student Leadership Legacy Scholarship recipient (2014), Tracy Garis Leadership Award (2016), Leadership Boot Camp, helped organize Disability Services' Transition Conference and a partnered with Firetree Place for a four-hour community day.

Meagan L. Dosch
Aspers
Business administration: marketing concentration

Introduced by Anthony J. Pace

Student Government Association vice president for public relations, chair of advertising committee, SGA delegate to Governance's Elections and Communications Committee, member of the Wildcat women's tennis team, Game Day Assistant for athletics, Student Marketing Assistant, Executive Board member for All-American Rejects concert, Leadership Boot Camp

Colby Janowitz
Westminster, Maryland
Culinary arts and systems, hospitality management

Introduced by Chef Paul E. Mach, assistant professor of hospitality management/culinary arts

Student Government Association (including service as senator for the School of Business & Hospitality), Kentucky Derby hospitality internship (twice), Visiting Chef events (2013-17), Growers Market student manager, Pennsylvania Farm Show internship, member of the Wildcat wrestling team, Leadership Boot Camp, Family Promise volunteer

Morgan N. Keyser
Dillsburg
Graphic design

Introduced by Katie L. Mackey, director of campus and community engagement

College Council, Presidential Student Ambassador, Commuter Assistant, Connections Link, Career Services Advisory Board, American Institute of Graphic Arts student chapter (including terms as co-president and co-vice president), graphic design work for various student organizations, Penn Pal mentor, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Alpha Chi honor society, Awesome Woman Exemplar, Student Leadership Legacy Scholarship recipient (2016), Central Pennsylvania Food Bank volunteer, Cru

Elizabeth L. Landis
Columbia
Emergency management technology
(Landis was unable to attend due to an internship)

Resident Assistant, president and founder of the Emergency Management Club, Cru, Awesome Woman Exemplar, Alpha Chi honor society, volunteer firefighter with Penryn Fire Co. in Lancaster County, Susquehanna Health Mass Casualty Incident exercise, organized several autism-awareness events.

Stephanie M. Puckly
Spartansburg
Welding and fabrication engineering technology

Introduced by David R. Cotner, dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies

Featured in "What if you could change the world?" college commercial, "Student Bodies" Centennial welding sculptures, Community Assistant, Presidential Student Ambassador, 4-H Clubs in Warren County, volunteer with The Cupboard food pantry on campus, welding and metallurgy tutor, John Deere Scholarship

Kasandra L. Smoyer
Spring Mills
Nursing

Introduced by Becky J. Shaner, manager of student/alumni engagement and special events

Student Development Assistant, Student Nurses' Association (including service as vice president), organized a number of SNA events and fundraisers, volunteer at St. Anthony's free clinic and kitchen, participant in School of Health Sciences' Interdisciplinary Professional Event, Emergency Management mock disaster, Cru, Awesome Woman Exemplar

Josiah D. Stoltzfus
Morgantown
Construction management

Introduced by Katie L. Mackey

Twice organized the Yell(ow) It Out event to raise suicide awareness, Community Assistant (including popular "PB&J Time" in the Bush Campus Center Commuter Lounge), Presidential Student Ambassador, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank volunteer, Wildcat Block Party, Sigma Lambda Chi construction honor society, Construction Management Association, Rose Staiman Memorial Award, two-time recipient of the Construction Management Advisory Committee Scholarship

Brittany R. Terpstra
Jim Thorpe
Web and interactive media

Introduced by Allison A. Bressler

Presidential Student Ambassador, twice Wildcat Events Board (including service as president and marketing coordinator), Student of the Month (March 2017), Connections Link, Awesome Woman Exemplar, Leadership Boot Camp, developed video campaign and volunteered at Lycoming SPCA, twice involved with collaborative spring concerts at Lycoming College, Penn Pal mentor, Students Making a Contribution, Pennsylvania Women in Tech Conference, National Association for Campus Activities Conference

Christopher M. Tkatch
Harrisburg
Welding and fabrication engineering technology, innovation leadership


Introduced by Steven J. Moff, professor of business administration/management and marketing

President of the Ski and Snowboard Club, Cru, Riverwalk cleanup, volunteer at Mike Posner concert, member of the USA Triathlon Organization, American Welding Society, ski instructor and "Rookie of the Year" at Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Among others attending the awards banquet were Loni N. Kline, vice president for institutional advancement; Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer; and two students who served on the awards committee: Lindsey A. King, of Hanover, pre-applied health studies: occupational therapy assistant concentration, and Paul M. Lasell, of Williamsport, a plastics and polymer engineering technology student.